Then, he looked at Zhang Yuanpan and said solemnly, "Zhang Yuanpan, I order you to be personally responsible for Shen Wanrong's pregnancy care for the next few months. Make sure the dragon fetus is safe and sound."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

At nightfall, due to her foot injury, Sheng Xiyan enjoyed another special treatment and had dinner with Emperor Xuanwu in the Yangxin Palace.

As Eunuch Fu led his men to set the table, he muttered quietly, "Even the Empress hasn't been able to sit down here and have dinner with the Emperor."

Normally, when Emperor Xuanwu visited the other palaces, the ladies might be able to sit down and eat together, but when he arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, they had to stand respectfully aside while the dishes were served.

Sheng Xiyan carefully observed which dish Xuan Ling ordered most often and which dish he left untouched, so that she could remember his preferences. To understand the emperor's heart, one must first understand his stomach and know his preferences.

At the same time, Xuan Ling was secretly trying to figure out what she liked to eat.

The two of them silently observed each other's rhythm of moving their chopsticks, and finally looked at each other unconsciously, their eyes intertwined, causing their hearts to suddenly skip a beat.

Xuan Ling first analyzed her preferences, "Yan Yan likes sweet and sour food? Give this half piece of sweet and sour fish to Sheng Chongyuan, and ask for the belly meat."

The palace maid carefully picked up the fish belly and gave it to Sheng Xiyan. She ate it gracefully and smiled, and she also observed that the emperor liked spicy food.

"Your Majesty, when you move into Guanju Palace, I will make you spicy diced chicken, boiled beef, and tiger skin chili peppers."

Xuan Ling smiled gently and nodded, "I will have a good time in the future."

At this time, the commander of the imperial guards outside the palace came in and reported, "Your Majesty, the guards found an anonymous letter at the palace gate."

After Xuan Ling opened it, he saw that it said: "There is phosphorus powder in Zhongcui Palace."

Hand the anonymous letter to Sheng Xiyan.

Sheng Xiyan was surprised and said, "White phosphorus powder will not spontaneously explode at room temperature, but it can spontaneously combust under certain conditions."

Xuan Ling said, "If someone throws a small flame in, it will generate enough heat to make the phosphorus powder reach its self-ignition point, thus starting a fire."

He immediately ordered: "Commander Ma, take your men to Zhongcui Palace and search thoroughly. Don't leave any corner untouched."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Sheng Xiyan carefully examined the anonymous letter. The handwriting was illegible and it was obvious that it was deliberately drawn to make it difficult to distinguish.

From the moment she entered the palace, Concubine Shu had been at odds with her, playing dirty tricks on her and sowing discord between them. Could it be she who had set off the phosphorus powder and the flames? Or was this a conspiracy orchestrated by someone else?

The opportunity to be loved by the emperor must not be missed.

Sheng Xiyan trembled and said, "Your Majesty, does this happen often in the palace? It's so scary."

Xuan Ling stood up, hugged her and comforted her, "Yan Yan, don't be afraid. No matter who wants to harm you, I will take care of it and punish them severely."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Sheng Xiyan lay in Xuan Ling's arms, her body trembling slightly.

This was the first time she witnessed direct assassination, and her back felt cold. The fighting on the battlefield was real, while the fighting in the harem was a subtle and insidious trick.

At this time, in Zhongcui Palace.

The commander of the imperial guards and his guards quickly arrived at the palace gate.

A palace maid ran in to report, "Your Majesty, this is terrible! The imperial guards are here to search the palace."

Shufei and Hongxiu exchanged glances, and the two of them tacitly did not speak. Hongxiu helped Shufei get down from the plum blossom couch and put on her shoes.

He walked outside the hall and asked, "Commander Ma, what happened?"

"Your Majesty, I came to Zhongcui Palace to search for something under the order of the Emperor."

Concubine Shu clutched her handkerchief tightly and said with a smile, "What is there in my palace that requires such a big fuss?"

The guards searched inside and outside the palace, not even sparing any flowers or plants, turning them over one by one.

Hongxiu gently patted Shufei's arm with her fingers, signaling her not to be nervous.

Concubine Shu stood at the entrance of the main hall with a faint smile on her face. "Since it is the emperor's wish, I will certainly cooperate. But after the search is completed, Commander Ma must tell me what happened."

Commander Ma agreed and waited for the results of the search.

After a long search, they found no white phosphorus. Commander Ma apologized and said, "Your Highness, someone sent an anonymous letter claiming there was white phosphorus in Zhongcui Palace. The Emperor sent me to search for it. Since they haven't found it, the Emperor will clear your name. I'll report this to the Emperor right away."

He withdrew from Zhongcui Palace with his guards.

Hongxiu said, "Close the palace door."

The palace door was closed, and he helped Concubine Shu walk into the main hall. Her legs were so weak that she couldn't even walk steadily. "Your Majesty, be careful and sit down."

Concubine Shu's face turned pale and she breathed a sigh of relief, a feeling of having survived a disaster.

Hongxiu brought the soothing soup and said, "My Lady, it's okay. Don't be afraid."

After drinking half a cup of the tranquilizing soup, Concubine Shu said, "Fortunately, you discovered it in time, otherwise I would not be able to wash away my sins even if I jumped into the Yellow River."

Hongxiu recalled:

This afternoon, she went to the backyard of Zhongcui Palace to hang clothes. A belt fell to the ground. When she picked it up, she caught a glimpse of a small amount of powder in the grass not far away.

I walked closer, squatted down, pulled away the grass, grabbed a little and looked at it carefully, wondering if this was white phosphorus powder?

White phosphorus powder will spontaneously combust when it comes into contact with heat. She immediately thought of the fire in the small kitchen of Chuxiu Palace last night. After returning last night, Concubine Shu and she had secretly discussed whether the fire was caused by strong winds or someone set the fire.

Hongxiu suddenly felt something was wrong, so she immediately took a pot of water, collected all the white phosphorus powder and put it into the water. White phosphorus powder is insoluble in water and will not burn in water, so it can be properly stored.

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Hongxiu said, "My father used to make tinder in the market. He made it by combining white phosphorus with sulfur, saltpeter, rosin, and other materials. That's why I know white phosphorus powder."

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